http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/because-everyone-knows-oil-companies-love-poor
Because Everyone Knows Oil Companies Love The Poor
By Kyle | January 15, 2009 - 4:16pm
Last year we wrote a series of posts about the pro-drilling Americans for American Energy's bogus grassroots "Stop the War on the Poor" campaign being fronted by Niger Innis and Harry Jackson.
Over the last six months, we haven't seen anything about them and assumed that they had disbanded ... but we were wrong. Apparently, they are still hard at work and are now targeting Robert Redford for hating the poor:
Hollywood's Sundance Kid is hurting poor people.
So say some East Coast ministers and conservative activists, who took to the streets in front of a downtown Salt Lake City theater on the eve of Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival to accuse the actor of holding down low-income Americans with his opposition to oil and gas drilling near national parks in Utah.
The protesters, led by the Congress of Racial Equality's national spokesman Niger Innis, suggested Redford should "relinquish his wealth" and live like a poor person. They complained that the filmmaker's anti-drilling stance could lead to higher energy prices for inner-city residents, forcing them to accept a lower standard of living.
The clergymen prayed for Redford "to see the light" and linked his environmental activism with racism.
"The high energy prices we're going to see this winter are essentially discriminatory," said Bishop Harry Jackson Jr. of the Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md., chairman of the High-Impact Leadership Coalition, a petroleum industry advocate.
This whole thing is laughable, but some good has come of it - like the fact that, from this point forward, whenever I mention Harry Jackson, I will be able to follow it with the phrase "petroleum industry advocate."
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Take Action: Make global warming a priority for 2009
Click title above
The Union of Concerned Scientists is working in coalition with other organizations to send a clear message to the new president: we need to build a clean energy economy that will break our dependence on oil, create millions of new jobs, and cut global warming pollution. Thank you for joining hundreds of thousands of people in signing our petition last month to Repower, Refuel, and Rebuild America. We know from experience that real change doesn’t just happen and that we cannot underestimate the power of the oil and coal industries and the legislators who support them. That’s why we need to gather a million signatures by the end of this month! Please help us reach this goal by urging your family and friends to sign the petition today.
Sincerely,
Kate Abend
National Field Organizer
UCS Climate Program
The Union of Concerned Scientists is working in coalition with other organizations to send a clear message to the new president: we need to build a clean energy economy that will break our dependence on oil, create millions of new jobs, and cut global warming pollution. Thank you for joining hundreds of thousands of people in signing our petition last month to Repower, Refuel, and Rebuild America. We know from experience that real change doesn’t just happen and that we cannot underestimate the power of the oil and coal industries and the legislators who support them. That’s why we need to gather a million signatures by the end of this month! Please help us reach this goal by urging your family and friends to sign the petition today.
Sincerely,
Kate Abend
National Field Organizer
UCS Climate Program
Are you the next Obama?
Click the title above
When President-Elect Obama gets sworn in on Tuesday it will be because of you. DFA members knew a raising star early in Obama's race for the Senate back in 2004 and worked tirelessly on the ground for victory using the tools and tactics we've learned together.
In fact, since the early days of DFA's Campaign Academy, we've trained over 15,000 activists and hundreds of progressive candidates in the skills to win.
Who will be the next Obama?
While we may not know the answer yet, what we do know is the DFA Campaign Academy is likely to train him -- or her.
This year, we'll host our two-day intensive campaign trainings in communities all over the country. Today, I'm excited to announce the first 7 in:
Des Moines, IA February 28-March 1
Newport News, VA March 14-15
Melbourne, FL March 21-22
Fresno, CA March 28-29
Memphis, TN April 24-25
Lafayette, IN May 15-16
Charlotte, NC June 6-7
Can you make it to any of these events this year?
During his victory speech Obama said "This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only for us the chance to make that change."
Ultimately, the power to change this country is in your hands, not in the hands of D.C politicians.
DFA Trainings bring together dozens of activists, candidates and campaign professionals for two days of intensive training and fun. Click above to learn more about our trainings and stay tuned for more training events to be announced in the coming months.
Our efforts over the past several years have taken us along way, but the hardest and most important work lies ahead. 2009 is our chance to re-build a progressive country for generations to come.
Join DFA at a 2009 training and we'll make it happen together.
-Matt
Matt Blizek, Training Director
Democracy for America
When President-Elect Obama gets sworn in on Tuesday it will be because of you. DFA members knew a raising star early in Obama's race for the Senate back in 2004 and worked tirelessly on the ground for victory using the tools and tactics we've learned together.
In fact, since the early days of DFA's Campaign Academy, we've trained over 15,000 activists and hundreds of progressive candidates in the skills to win.
Who will be the next Obama?
While we may not know the answer yet, what we do know is the DFA Campaign Academy is likely to train him -- or her.
This year, we'll host our two-day intensive campaign trainings in communities all over the country. Today, I'm excited to announce the first 7 in:
Des Moines, IA February 28-March 1
Newport News, VA March 14-15
Melbourne, FL March 21-22
Fresno, CA March 28-29
Memphis, TN April 24-25
Lafayette, IN May 15-16
Charlotte, NC June 6-7
Can you make it to any of these events this year?
During his victory speech Obama said "This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only for us the chance to make that change."
Ultimately, the power to change this country is in your hands, not in the hands of D.C politicians.
DFA Trainings bring together dozens of activists, candidates and campaign professionals for two days of intensive training and fun. Click above to learn more about our trainings and stay tuned for more training events to be announced in the coming months.
Our efforts over the past several years have taken us along way, but the hardest and most important work lies ahead. 2009 is our chance to re-build a progressive country for generations to come.
Join DFA at a 2009 training and we'll make it happen together.
-Matt
Matt Blizek, Training Director
Democracy for America
Keep GE Corn for Ethanol Refineries Out of My Cornflakes!
Click the title above
The United States Department of Agriculture is considering a petition from Syngenta Seeds seeking nonregulated status for a new genetically engineered corn seed that is modified to produce an enzyme that facilitates ethanol production. This new industrial GE corn could pose significant threats to the human food supply. Can you tell the new Obama Administration USDA it's time time to stand up for our food supply?
Syngenta is asking the USDA for permission to plant their non-food GE corn without any regulation. The particular genetic change that they've made to this corn is adding a plant pathogen from an exotic enzyme derived from "thermophilic" (heat-loving) microorganisms living near deep sea hydrothermal vents. These exotic enzymes are not currently in the food system. This corn designed for ethanol refineries will almost certainly accidentally enter the food supply as tortilla chips, corn oil and sweeteners. Plus, the leftover corn residues from ethanol production (called distillers grains) are fed to cattle, hogs and chickens that end up on supermarket shelves.
The worst part about this proposal is that we're putting the food system at risk to help the controversial ethanol industry save a few pennies in processing. At best, ethanol has little impact on global warming - and may even make the situation worse. And the rush to ethanol has created a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico hundreds of miles long where no aquatic life can survive. Fortunately, we've got a new Administration that we can ask to stand up to corporate interests.
Tell USDA to take a stand for food safety by saying no to industrial GE corn for ethanol.
Thanks for taking action,
Sarah, Noelle, and The Food Team
Food & Water Watch
goodfood@fwwatch.org
The United States Department of Agriculture is considering a petition from Syngenta Seeds seeking nonregulated status for a new genetically engineered corn seed that is modified to produce an enzyme that facilitates ethanol production. This new industrial GE corn could pose significant threats to the human food supply. Can you tell the new Obama Administration USDA it's time time to stand up for our food supply?
Syngenta is asking the USDA for permission to plant their non-food GE corn without any regulation. The particular genetic change that they've made to this corn is adding a plant pathogen from an exotic enzyme derived from "thermophilic" (heat-loving) microorganisms living near deep sea hydrothermal vents. These exotic enzymes are not currently in the food system. This corn designed for ethanol refineries will almost certainly accidentally enter the food supply as tortilla chips, corn oil and sweeteners. Plus, the leftover corn residues from ethanol production (called distillers grains) are fed to cattle, hogs and chickens that end up on supermarket shelves.
The worst part about this proposal is that we're putting the food system at risk to help the controversial ethanol industry save a few pennies in processing. At best, ethanol has little impact on global warming - and may even make the situation worse. And the rush to ethanol has created a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico hundreds of miles long where no aquatic life can survive. Fortunately, we've got a new Administration that we can ask to stand up to corporate interests.
Tell USDA to take a stand for food safety by saying no to industrial GE corn for ethanol.
Thanks for taking action,
Sarah, Noelle, and The Food Team
Food & Water Watch
goodfood@fwwatch.org
Is Coal — The new Joe Camel?
Have you seen the latest ad from the coal industry? It is truly ridiculous.
It immediately reminded me of the Joe Camel character that the tobacco industry used to make their dirty product more appealing. See it for yourself -- and learn the reality behind their spin.
http://action.thisisreality.org/joecamel
The full page ad features a lump of coal wearing sunglasses as if that will somehow make it "cool" and convince people that it is clean. No matter how they dress it up, there is no such thing as "clean" coal. Not when coal plants give off more carbon pollution than all the cars and trucks on the road.
Just ask the folks in Tennessee who were in the path of the billion-gallon coal ash spill if they think coal is clean.
It is up to us to debunk the myth of so-called "clean" coal. Please check out our latest feature, and make sure your friends learn the reality. We can't let the coal industry's spin go unanswered.
Thanks,
Brian Hardwick
Reality Coalition
ThisIsReality.org
It immediately reminded me of the Joe Camel character that the tobacco industry used to make their dirty product more appealing. See it for yourself -- and learn the reality behind their spin.
http://action.thisisreality.org/joecamel
The full page ad features a lump of coal wearing sunglasses as if that will somehow make it "cool" and convince people that it is clean. No matter how they dress it up, there is no such thing as "clean" coal. Not when coal plants give off more carbon pollution than all the cars and trucks on the road.
Just ask the folks in Tennessee who were in the path of the billion-gallon coal ash spill if they think coal is clean.
It is up to us to debunk the myth of so-called "clean" coal. Please check out our latest feature, and make sure your friends learn the reality. We can't let the coal industry's spin go unanswered.
Thanks,
Brian Hardwick
Reality Coalition
ThisIsReality.org
Take the Pledge to Service
http://www.actioncenter.org/take_action/15
I hereby make a commitment to service, volunteerism and action throughout my life.
I recognize that through service I give of myself and strengthen the bonds of community and humanity.
I will strive for a deeper understanding of the root causes of hunger and poverty and seek innovative means to address them, both locally and globally.
I commit to build awareness about service in any and all communities that I am a part of and inspire people around me to pursue issues of social justice.
For this reason, I will act with compassion, serving as a volunteer, advocate and activist for positive change in the world from this day forward.
I hereby make a commitment to service, volunteerism and action throughout my life.
I recognize that through service I give of myself and strengthen the bonds of community and humanity.
I will strive for a deeper understanding of the root causes of hunger and poverty and seek innovative means to address them, both locally and globally.
I commit to build awareness about service in any and all communities that I am a part of and inspire people around me to pursue issues of social justice.
For this reason, I will act with compassion, serving as a volunteer, advocate and activist for positive change in the world from this day forward.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)